Exerciser for generating electricity

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes an exercising mechanism for being operated by a user who may spend and consume an energy to operate the exercising mechanism, an electric generating device coupled to the exercising mechanism for being actuated by the exercising mechanism to generate an electric energy, a converter coupled to the electric generating device for receiving and converting the electric energy into an alternate current, an electric energy reservoir coupled to the converter for receiving the alternate current generated by the converter, and a control circuit for the exerciser may be coupled to the converter for being energized with the alternate current generated by the converter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exerciser or exercising device, and more particularly to an exerciser for being operated or actuated by the users and including an electric generating device for being powered by the users to generate an electric energy and to supply the electric energy to the electric energy reservoir, and/or to energize the electric facilities or devices for the exerciser.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical exercisers or exercising mechanisms, such as treadmills, cycling exercisers, pedaling exercisers, stepping exercisers, rowing exercisers, or other hand actuating or foot actuating exercisers comprise an exercising mechanism for being operated or actuated by the hands or the feet of the users.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,211 to Ivanoff discloses one of the typical amusement and therapeutic devices comprising a pair of foot pedals for being stepped or operated or actuated by the feet of the users, and a motor switched on or actuatable only when the coin is inserted into a coin box, and provided for operating a braking device.

However, the motor is required to be energized by the commercial electric energy, but may not be energized by the energy spent by the users, or the typical amusement and therapeutic devices may not be used to generate an electric energy and may not be used to energize or to operate or actuate the braking devices for the exercisers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,622 to Swenson discloses another typical foot and leg exerciser comprising a pair of foot pedals for being stepped or operated or actuated by the feet of the users, and a motor for operating or actuating crankshafts to operate or actuate the foot pedals.

However, similarly, the motor is required to be energized by the commercial electric energy, but may not be energized by the energy spent by the users, or the typical exercisers may not be used to generate an electric energy and may not be used to energize or to operate or actuate the motor for the exercisers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,494 to Lambert, Sr. discloses a further typical exerciser for the handicapped and comprising a pair of foot pedals for being stepped or operated or actuated by the feet of the users and/or by the hands of the users, and one or more gear motors for operating or actuating the foot pedals or the handles.

However, similarly, the gear motors are required to be energized by the commercial electric energy, but may not be energized by the energy spent by the users, or the typical exercisers may not be used to generate an electric energy and may not be used to energize or to operate or actuate the gear motors for the exercisers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,392 to Lo discloses a still further typical exerciser comprising a pair of foot pedals for being stepped or operated or actuated by the feet of the users, and a magnet-type resistance generator for braking the cycling or rotational movement of the exerciser.

However, similarly, the magnet-type resistance generators are required to be energized by the commercial electric energy, but may not be energized by the energy spent by the users, or the typical exercisers may not be used to generate an electric energy and may not be used to energize or to operate or actuate the magnet-type resistance generators for the exercisers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,857 to Watterson et al. discloses a still further typical treadmill exerciser comprising an electric motor coupled to two rollers in order to rotate or drive an endless treadmill belt.

However, similarly, the electric motors are required to be energized by the commercial electric energy, but may not be energized by the energy spent by the users, or the typical exercisers may not be used to generate an electric energy and may not be used to energize or to operate or actuate the electric motors for the exercisers.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers or exercising mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exerciser for being operated or actuated by the users and including an electric generating device for being powered by the users to generate an electric energy and to supply the electric energy to the electric energy reservoir, and/or to energize the electric facilities or devices for the exerciser.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exerciser comprising an exercising mechanism for being operated by a user who may spend and consume an energy to operate the exercising mechanism, an electric generating device coupled to the exercising mechanism for being actuated by the exercising mechanism to generate an electric energy, a converter coupled to the electric generating device for receiving the electric energy from the electric generating device and for converting the electric energy into an alternate current, an electric energy reservoir coupled to the converter for receiving the alternate current generated by the converter, and a control circuit coupled to the converter for being energized with the alternate current generated by the converter.

The control circuit includes a processor device coupled between the electric generating device and the converter. The control circuit includes a power controller coupled to the processor device, and an energy consuming mode setting and a power command processing unit coupled to the power controller.

The control circuit includes a current controller coupled between the power controller and the converter. The electric energy reservoir includes an input terminal coupled to a portion between the power controller and the current controller.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exerciser in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is another block diagram of the exerciser having an electric generating device for being powered by the users to generate an electric energy and to supply the electric energy to the electric energy reservoir, and/or to energize the electric facilities or devices for the exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, an exerciser 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an exercising mechanism 10 for being operated or actuated by the hands or the feet of the user 11 who may spend or consume an energy (Pi, FIG. 2) to operate or actuate such as the foot pedals or the handles (not shown) of the exercising mechanism 10 and to generate an energy or power (Pm, Wm, FIG. 2), such as to generate a rotational or sliding or reciprocating or cycling energy or power (Pm, Wm), an electric generating device 12 coupled to the exercising mechanism 10 for being operated or actuated by the exercising mechanism 10 to generate an electric energy (Pe, FIG. 2) which is normally a direct current energy.

A converter 20 is coupled to the electric generating device 12 for receiving the electric energy (Pe) generated by the electric generating device 12 and for converting the electric energy (Pe) into another electric energy, such as an alternate current (Is, FIG. 2) which may be sent or supplied or introduced into an electric energy reservoir 21, and/or to energize the electric facilities or devices 30, such as the control circuit 30 disposed in the exercising mechanism 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 30 for the exercising mechanism 10 may include a power calculator or processor device 31 coupled between the electric generating device 12 and the converter 20, such as coupled between the output terminal 13 of the electric generating device 12 and the input terminal 22 of the converter 20 for controlling or operating or actuating the electric generating device 12 and/or the converter 20.

The control circuit 30 further includes a power controlling device or power controller 32 coupled to the processor device 31, an energy consuming mode setting 33 and a power command calculator or processing unit 34 coupled to the power controller 32, in which the energy consuming mode setting 33 and/or the power command calculator or processing unit 34 may be controlled or operated or actuated by the user 11 to set or select a selected or predetermined power or energy (Pe*) to be applied or spent or generated by the user 11, and the set or selected or predetermined power or energy (Pe*) may then be supplied to the power controller 32 in order to generate or send out an output current (Im*), for example, the power controller 32 may compare the set or selected or predetermined power or energy (Pe*) with the electric energy (Pe) generated by the electric generating device 12, and the deviation or difference between the energies (Pe, Pe*) may generate or determine the output current (Im*).

A current controller 35 is coupled between the converter 20 and the power controller 32. The electric energy reservoir 21 may include an input terminal 23 coupled to the converter 20 for receiving an electric power or energy (Vs), and the input terminal 23 of the electric energy reservoir 21 may then be coupled to an intermediate portion 36 between the power controller 32 and the current controller 35. For example, the output current (Im*) generated or sent out from the power controller 32 and the electric power or energy (Vs) sent or supplied into the electric energy reservoir 21 may then be combined or timed with each other to generate or send out a current order or current command (Is*) which is sent to the current controller 35, and the current controller 35 may compare and maintain the current command (Is*) equal to the electric energy (Is) supplied or introduced to the electric energy reservoir 21.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, the user 11 may spend or consume an energy (Pi) to operate or actuate the exercising mechanism 10 in order to operate or actuate the electric generating device 12, and the converter 20 may convert the electric energy (Pe) generated by the electric generating device 12 and may supply the electric energy (Pe) into the electric energy reservoir 21 and/or stored in the electric energy reservoir 21, and/or to energize the control circuit 30 or the other electric facilities or devices disposed in the exercising mechanism 10, the user may actuate the energy consuming mode setting 33 and/or the power command calculator or processing unit 34 and/or the power controller 32 to operate or actuate the processor device 31 and to control or operate or actuate the electric generating device 12 and/or the converter 20, and/or to determine the energy to be spent by the user to operate or actuate the exercising mechanism 10, and/or to determine the energy to be generated by the electric generating device 12, and/or to determine the energy to be supplied and stored in the electric energy reservoir 21.

Accordingly, the exerciser in accordance with the present invention may be provided for being operated or actuated by the users and includes an electric generating device for being powered by the users to generate an electric energy and to supply the electric energy to the electric energy reservoir, and/or to energize the electric facilities or devices for the exerciser.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. An exerciser comprising: an exercising mechanism for being operated by a user who may spend and consume an energy to operate said exercising mechanism, an electric generating device coupled to said exercising mechanism for being actuated by said exercising mechanism to generate an electric energy, a converter coupled to said electric generating device for receiving the electric energy from said electric generating device and for converting the electric energy into an alternate current, an electric energy reservoir coupled to said converter for receiving the alternate current generated by said converter, and a control circuit coupled to said converter for being energized with the alternate current generated by said converter.
 2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a processor device coupled between said electric generating device and said converter.
 3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control circuit includes a power controller coupled to said processor device, and an energy consuming mode setting and a power command processing unit coupled to said power controller.
 4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control circuit includes a current controller coupled between said power controller and said converter.
 5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electric energy reservoir includes an input terminal coupled to a portion between said power controller and said current controller. 